Obesity, Overweight, and Dyslipidemia in Children and Adolescents

Table of Contents

1. OBESITY, OVERWEIGHT, AND DYSLIPIDEMIA IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
2. DEFINITIONS
3. BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)
4. EPIDEMIOLOGY
5. ETIOLOGY
6. ASSESSMENT
7. CO-MORBIDITIES
8. HYPERLIPIDEMIA
9. DIET AND EXERCISE RECOMMENDATIONS
   1. Four Stage Treatment Recommendations
   2. For Children Under Age 2
10. PHARMACOLOGIC INTERVENTIONS
11. REFERRING TO SUBSPECIALISTS
12. TAKE HOME POINTS
13. RESOURCES & REFERENCES
14. ABOUT THE MODULE

DIET AND EXERCISE RECOMMENDATIONS

In overweight and obese patients, given a high triglyceride level (>150 mg/dL) or low HDL level (< 35-50 mg/dL), weight management is the primary treatment. This involves dietary modification, with the help of a nutritionist, and increasing physical activity.

High risk patients:

• children and adolescents with a family history of CVD
• personal history of high total cholesterol or LDL concentrations
• personal history diabetes
• personal history obesity
• personal history of cigarette smoking
• personal history of hypertension

from American Heart Association Diet and Exercise Recommendations (Daniels, 2008)

Diet should restrict saturated fat to 7% of total calories and dietary cholesterol to 200 mg/day.

These have been implemented for children as young as 7 months of age without interference in growth, development, or sexual maturation.